Top feed belt apparatus for a sewing machine

Abstract

There is provided in a sewing machine, a top feed belt apparatus for pulling material in a direction of sewing. The top feed belt apparatus includes a top feed belt for contacting the material, and a tool-less, manual adjustment device for providing a tool-less, indexed, manual adjustment to a motion of the top feed belt based on an operator input.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In a sewing machine, a top feed belt apparatus for pulling material in a direction of sewing, the top feed belt apparatus comprising: 
 a top feed belt for contacting the material; and    a tool-less, manual adjustment device for providing a tool-less, indexed, manual adjustment to a motion of the top feed belt based on an operator input.    
     
     
         2 . The top feed belt apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said tool-less manual adjustment device comprises a stepper motor for adjusting the motion of the top feed belt in response to the operator input.  
     
     
         3 . The top feed belt apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said tool-less manual adjustment device comprises a servomotor for adjusting the motion of the top feed belt in response to the operator input.  
     
     
         4 . The top feed belt apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said tool-less manual adjustment device comprises a mechanical linkage for adjusting the motion of the top feed belt in response to the operator input.  
     
     
         5 . The top feed belt apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sewing machine comprises a feeding mechanism for feeding the material into a sewing area of the sewing machine in conjunction with said top feed belt, and said tool-less manual adjustment device is capable of synchronizing the top feed belt with the feeding mechanism of the sewing machine based on the operator input.  
     
     
         6 . The top feed belt apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the feeding mechanism comprises at least one of a feed dog and a belt.  
     
     
         7 . The top feed belt apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said tool-less manual adjustment device is capable of accounting for characteristics of the material to be sewed in adjusting the motion of the top feed belt based on the operator input.  
     
     
         8 . The top feed belt apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said tool-less manual adjustment device, in adjusting the motion of the top feed belt based on the operator input, is capable of accounting for at least one of a number of layers of the material to be sewed, a pattern to be sewed on the material, an elasticity of at least one of the layers of the material, and a coefficient of friction of at least one of the layers of the material.  
     
     
         9 . The top feed belt apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the top feed belt is capable of pulling the material having a minimum thickness of at least one inch.  
     
     
         10 . The top feed belt apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sewing machine comprises a needle penetration area, and said top feed belt is adapted to contact the material directly in line with the needle penetration area, to pull the material in the direction of sewing and allow turning of the material at the needle penetration area.  
     
     
         11 . In a sewing machine, a method for adjusting a top feed belt, the top feed belt for pulling material in a direction of sewing, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a capability for tool-less, indexed, and manual adjustment of a motion of the top feed belt based on an operator input.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said providing step comprises the step of providing a capability to control a stepper motor to adjust the motion of the top feed belt in response to the operator input.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said providing step comprises the step of providing a capability to control a servomotor to adjust the motion of the top feed belt in response to the operator input.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said providing step comprises the step of providing a capability to control a mechanical linkage to adjust the motion of the top feed belt in response to the operator input.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sewing machine comprises a feeding mechanism for feeding the material into a sewing area of the sewing machine in conjunction with said top feed belt, and said providing step comprises the step of providing a capability to synchronize the top feed belt with the feeding mechanism of the sewing machine based on the operator input.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said providing step comprises the step of providing a capability to account for characteristics of the material to be sewed in adjusting the motion of the top feed belt based on the operator input.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said providing step, in providing the capability for tool-less, indexed, and manual adjustment of the motion of the top feed belt based on the operator input, comprises the step of providing the capability to account for at least one of a number of layers of the material to be sewed, a pattern to be sewed on the material, an elasticity of at least one of the layers of the material, and a coefficient of friction of at least one of the layers of the material.